Thermal energy storage is an innovative solution that can bridge the gap between cheap yet intermittent renewable electricity and the energy needs of industrial processes. These systems are able to convert electricity into heat, store it like a battery, and release it when required. Rondo Energy is a company at the forefront of developing and implementing thermal batteries. Their heat storage system uses a resistance heater to convert electricity into heat on a large scale, which is then used to heat stacks of bricks that can hold the heat for future use. The heated air from these bricks can be used to produce steam or be directly applied to equipment.
Rondo Energy aims to show that their technology is cost-effective by using readily available materials and designing equipment that can be easily integrated into existing facilities. The company’s CEO, John O’Donnell, believes that their economic viability has already been proven. Rondo has been conducting a commercial pilot at an ethanol plant in California since March 2023 and is expanding its manufacturing operations in Taiwan.
One of Rondo Energy’s significant projects involves partnering with the beverage company Diageo to install heat batteries at a Kentucky whiskey distillery where Bulleit bourbon is produced, as well as another Diageo facility. This project has received a $75 million funding boost from the US Department of Energy to support efforts to reduce industrial emissions. While Rondo is a key player in the thermal battery industry, many other companies are also exploring different materials, such as molten salt, metal, and rocks, to store heat effectively.
